Martin “Marty” Macey passed away on August 6th 2021. He was born to Walt and Mary Macey on February 9th 1953 to parents who loved him with the entirety of their souls. He had a childhood filled with adoration and too many adventures to list here. He went on to live a life that repeated those same ideals.
He was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend, a foe and an overall beautiful and complex human being.
There are many lessons that can be gleaned from the life of our beloved.
He taught us to love ridiculously and to never hold back praise. He spoke freely with kind words. He left love notes with smiley faces. He wrote letters and signed them with X’s and O’s. He put effort into his gestures and loved with all his heart. His letters, voice messages and any correspondence, if you were lucky enough to get one, made you feel like you were his favorite.
He was unapologetically goofy. He understood the power and importance of levity and comedy. He knew that both were key to surviving the worst this world has to offer. Marty was a legend in humor. He was quick and clever and made everything more fun. “A fart Joke a day will not keep the doctor away but it sure as hell will make your life a lot funnier.” (That is an exact quote from Marty himself.)
He believed that magic and whimsy are vital. Over the entirety of his life he never lost the ability to create both for his loved ones and for himself. He was passionate and lived with excitement. He was the best storyteller there was. He could read the instructions off the back of a Mac & Cheese box and make it sound like the greatest adventure ever told.
He made it a point in his life to take time to marvel at the world around him. He found joy in the heartbeat of nature. A beautiful sunrise, a summer storm, a bird making a nest, a dragonfly in his line of vision, he needed no more than this to find himself in awe and wonder. The natural world was his greatest refueling.
He was a lover of music and was a talented musician himself. If there was a piano or guitar in proximity, you could find him there playing pieces that could move anyone to tears, many he had written himself. He often could be found listening to his favorite music in the solitude of the early morning hours next to the pond he made himself in his backyard. It was a refuge for him from the turmoil of the world. He was also a very talented drummer and would drum on the dashboard of any vehicle he owned until it cracked. Music was his everything.
He experienced many hardships in his life. There were many moments that broke his heart and brought him to his knees, still, he managed to stay optimistic through it all. He tried to make all in his path happy, many times at his own expense. With age and with the wisdom that comes along with years, he realized that perfectionism and being bulletproof have zero to do with the human experience. He was learning to show himself the grace and forgiveness that he so easily offered to others throughout his life. He came to understand that shame has no place in a happy and productive life. He taught in spades that we are not the sum of our mistakes and that all along he was more than enough. The greatest thing we can achieve is to realize our worthiness was and never is on the table as something that can be taken away and I have no doubt that he knew this in his final moments. We are all so proud of him.
He loved his wife Kerri to the depths of his soul. It was a love like no other. He loved his kids and many grandkids. Jessica Macey-Lynn, Kassie Howell, Kristyn Macey and Brielle Macey will cherish the days they had with their Dad and feel so lucky to be his daughters. He was the most magical dad. Marty loved Kerri’s children, Tyson Ellis, Juston Ellis and Kristen Ellis like his own. We know that he cherished the years he got to have with them. He joined his sweet parents and brother Randy in a celebration on the other side. He leaves behind his brother (Ken Macey) and sisters Pam Gardiner and Mary Duncan whom he loved mightily and respected deeply.
We know that there are many that he loved and many that mourn his passing. When you miss him, put on a good pair of headphones and listen to your favorite song. He will be there in the melody.
There will be an open house hosted by Kristen Ellis, his stepdaughter, on Saturday, August 14th. It will be held from 6-8 pm at 1020 E Sunburn LN. Sandy, UT 84094
In lieu of flowers, please call someone you love and tell them a joke.
I had such pleasant memories of Marty growing up and coming from California and then Denver to see the Macey family in Salt Lake City. It was always fun, outgoing and great to be around. For years melted away and then became more and more distance but I still love them just the same. Our father in heaven and our brother Jesus Christ have a plan for all of us. Sending love to all the family. Steve Macey
Marty was my younger cousin I am five years older than him. We grew up in Northern California and a trip to Walt and Mary Macey‘s house was a major event that we absolutely loved. To say he was a character would be selling him short. Many wonderful memories in our childhood with all of our cousins. When I was 15 we traveled across the country on a history trip all the way to New York we traveled by pick up truck and camper somewhere in the middle of nowhere we realized there was somebody missing. It was Marty nobody knew where he was at and so we backtracked until we got to a gas station many miles from where we had been and he was sitting there waiting for us! He was fearless to him it was just another adventure! One of our capers together was when we took a large container of marbles and started shooting them out of the window on the upper story of Legrand house then we got carried away and headed out down the street slinging marbles everywhere not even considering the damage they were doing. Thanks to levelheaded Mary Lynn who turned us in we were busted. Let’s just say it didn’t take much for him to join in with Randy and I slinging the marbles around the neighborhood with a wrist rocket slingshot! He had a contagious since of humor and he was dearly loved and will be missed. We send our love condolences to all of his family and friends. Sincerely the Herb Macey family of Lake Havasu Arizona
We are so very sorry for your loss. Your father was and is one of the sweetest souls ever. His smile and laughter could light up a room. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Love to you all.
Elizabeth, Laura, Doug and Eric Wagstaff
Marty always made me laugh! As a kid, I don't think I ever saw Marty get mad. I remember one vacation to California that both our families took. As we were leaving, both cars driving down the freeway Marty was trying to throw tootsie pops into our open windows.
Marty could always make his mom laugh. I can hear her saying, "Oh Marty!".
I love you my sweet funny cousin.
We sincerely hope that Marty has found peace and is experiencing joy in his reunion with those that have gone before.
I would like to share a memory I have of Marty. I met him in third grade at Bonneville Elementary School. Marty was good friends with Johnny Fitzpatrick. From third to sixth grade, the three of us hung around together. I remember how funny Marty was and I was always laughing. I am sad to say I lost touch with Marty when we went to Clayton Jr. High. This year is our 50th high school reunion. It sounds like Marty continued to be a character to the end.
The obituary did not mention that Elder Macy served a mission in Japan. I was with him for part of that time, and would like to share that he helped me survive the experience. Visiting schools singing like troubadours, hanging out in the park on our day off to draw and sketch and take naps, these are only a few of the things we did that made a challenging time a true blessing. I only recently learned of Elder Macy’s departure. We did not stay in touch. But I did not want to miss an opportunity to express my gratitude for his friendship brief though it was. Better late than never.